All right.....Brutal honesty requested!

[JRB]

Looking very good there. I'd change one thing and that would be to switch the sgian dubh to my left leg. But then, I'm left handed.

[andyfg]

You look great. Well done!

[Pleater]

That would be good - take in the kilt and show half an inch more knee.



Yay!! More knees. Perfect.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Big Mikey]

A sharp dressed man indeed. And my compliments on the higher placing of the kilt pin. I have also adopted that placement and even add a second on occasion in the more usual position.

[Jack Daw]

SPOT ON! I like the pocket watch chain VERY much! Also, I'm envious of the sporran! One minor point is that you are not left-handed. Not your fault.

[Rex_Tremende]

Now I should say that I have some quibbles. I'm not fond of the tie, and I have a solid red silk replacement in the post as we speak.

I've noticed that some men have a fear of mixing patterns, but here's why I think the tie you have on now actually works: effective use of scale and color. Your tartan is the largest pattern you have on. I'd rank it a medium-large one, relative to what else is going on the ensemble. Your tie has the smallest pattern. I'd say it was a medium-small scale, which is small enough to contrast with the scale of the tartan, not so small as to read as a solid, large enough to discern the pattern from a distance. It uses colors from the tartan, picking up one of the overchecks as its main color, and then echoing the rest of the main colors in the medallions. When the colors relate like this, and the patterns are sufficiently different in scale, it is to my eye a pleasing contrast to a tartan.

If you think of how someone might decorate a room, you might paint the walls a grayish blue, upholster the sofa in a tartan, and add a side chair with a cushion in a contrasting color and dot pattern in a similar way.

For an absolutely sublime example of use of scale, pattern and texture, see one of the photos Robert posted illustrating pocket squares in use: One large check, one very small check, one medium dot pattern, and one bit of solid.

So, if you do trade ties for a solid, my advice would be to make sure you get a pocket square with a pattern.

Regards,
Rex.

[thescot]

My brother had an outfit like that . . .but it looks good on you! (Apologies to fans of Caddy Shack.)


Actually, I don't see how your outfit could look any better. I guess you could add a pocket handkerchief and a bonnet, but neither is required. In all honesty, that's just a great looking outfit.

[thescot]

What Rex said.

[macwilkin]

Thanks for all the input! Now I should say that I have some quibbles. I'm not fond of the tie, and I have a solid red silk replacement in the post as we speak. I haven't obtained a pocket squre yet, but I have a good source lined up. I'm also inclined to red, perhaps a textured silk in a slightly darker shade than the tie.

I seem to have lost some weight since the kilt was made, as it tends to slip a little. Not a problem when I'm wearing a belt, but I'll have to move the buckles (or gain five pounds) before taking this public.

Finally, the waitcoat is a trifle snug at the bottom. I was negligent in not having it fitted while wearing the kilt. The tailor marked it as he is accustomed to do, but the kilt is a bit thicker about my middle than my shirt. Lesson learned for next time.

Again, I thank you all for the compliments! You may be assured that every bit of good taste I displayed, I learned from you!

I see nothing wrong with the tie. I much prefer striped and crested ties to solid colour ones.

T.

[macwilkin]

I've noticed that some men have a fear of mixing patterns, but here's why I think the tie you have on now actually works: effective use of scale and color. Your tartan is the largest pattern you have on. I'd rank it a medium-large one, relative to what else is going on the ensemble. Your tie has the smallest pattern. I'd say it was a medium-small scale, which is small enough to contrast with the scale of the tartan, not so small as to read as a solid, large enough to discern the pattern from a distance. It uses colors from the tartan, picking up one of the overchecks as its main color, and then echoing the rest of the main colors in the medallions. When the colors relate like this, and the patterns are sufficiently different in scale, it is to my eye a pleasing contrast to a tartan.

If you think of how someone might decorate a room, you might paint the walls a grayish blue, upholster the sofa in a tartan, and add a side chair with a cushion in a contrasting color and dot pattern in a similar way.

For an absolutely sublime example of use of pattern and texture, see one of the photos Robert posted illustrating pocket squares in use: One large check, one very small check, one medium dot pattern, and one bit of solid.

So, if you do trade ties for a solid, my advise would be to make sure you get a pocket square with a pattern.

Regards,
Rex.

Well said, Rex

T.